Gwen looks back on past 8 years

CEBU, Philippines - Leading the opening ceremony of the 443rd founding anniversary of the Province of Cebu yesterday, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia looked back on the years and the things she had gone through as the leader of the province for eight years now.

She pointed out that she was struck by some similarities and uncertainties like when she first presided over the celebration eight years ago.

In her speech, Garcia recalled the uncertainty if she, as untried and untested first woman governor, could succeed when her election was facing a protest and the province was divided by political lines.

“With the impending election less than a year away, once again, the air of unease has started to creep in,” said Garcia referring to the recent political realignments for the 2013 elections.

The challenges Garcia had faced in her first term was the threat to convert three congressional districts into separate provinces popularly known as “Sugbuak” pushed by then congressmen Simeon Kintanar (2nd District), Antonio Yapha Jr (3rd District) and Clavel Asas-Martinez (5th District).

Garcia said she sought divine guidance and inspiration that “amidst the divisiveness, amidst all the rancor and bitterness”, she was able to achieve her goal which is unity among the “right thinking and decent Cebuanos.”

Garcia was joined yesterday by the members of the Provincial Board and some opposition leaders led by Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

Magpale was among those Garcia referred to as opposition board members during her first term.

Magpale confirmed that the “Sugbuak” issue has united them at the Capitol because they were also against it.

On the uneasiness that Garcia mentioned in her speech, Magpale said, “very uneasy I might be, pero duna ko’y obligasyon sa Sugbo. Mao na, I can sacrifice embarrassment.”

Magpale was an ally of Garcia in the 2007 and 2010 elections but has severed ties when Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) Party forged alliance with the Liberal Party. 

But in her welcome message, Magpale admired the effort of Garcia of bringing together local officials in raising their respective flags in front of the Capitol.

“Sakto ang gobernador nga buhaton gyud na nato kada founding anniversary kay kamo ang naglangkub niining atong gitawag nga kalamboan sa Probinsya sa Sugbo,” Magpale said.

Garcia also pointed out that the private sector, who has never experienced before “this effective, efficient and working partnership” with the government, is continually asking what’s next after her. 

The local government units down to the barangay and sitio level also experienced the same uncertainty.

“Kung wa na si Gwen, unsa naman unya ug asa kita paingon?” she said.

During her speech, Garcia admitted she could not help but cry especially when she remembers that as a newly installed governor then, she was facing a poll protest filed by an opponent who could not accept his defeat.

“And today, I again face charges that have been proven baseless and answered, but necessarily and obviously pushed by those who would wish to unseat me because they could not, up to now, accept me as governor of Cebu,” Garcia said.

Garcia however stressed that those similarities and parallelism she mentioned ended with the pride the province has gained in the past eight years.

“I would like to think that what we were and who we were eight years ago, is no longer the case that we are today,” Garcia said. — (FREEMAN)